Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to consult the public on future policy and support for farming once the UK leaves the EU, in advance of any decisions being taken or legislation being tabled; and if so, how views will be sought.

The Secretary of State set out five priority themes for engagement in her speech to the 2017 NFU Conference on 21 February: global demand, productivity, sustainability, resilience and consumer trust.

We will be working closely with the industry and the public on what is needed to drive agricultural and environmental policies forward once we leave the EU. Over the next few months we will be engaging with stakeholders so that Ministers and officials will be able to hear industry and the public’s views first hand.

We have a once in a generation opportunity to transform our food and farming policies and improve our environment and it is vital we are all part of this process.